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COMMUNITY MEDIATION SERVICES INC
JAMAICA, NY · EIN 112663007 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Large ($10M-$50M) · mediatenyc.org
revenue
$25.1M
expenses
$23.9M
net assets
$6.8M
employees
297
volunteers
87
program ratio
86%
mission · from form 990

To empower every member of the community by promoting effective approaches to problem-solving.

profile · synthesized from sources

Community Mediation Services Inc. (CMS) is a nonprofit organization based in Jamaica, NY, that has served New York City communities since 1980. It provides conflict resolution, family support, youth development, and housing services to individuals and families facing personal, legal, or social challenges. CMS works with courts, schools, and city agencies to offer mediation, alternatives to incarceration, crisis intervention, and shelter programs across Queens and Brooklyn.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.21M
    Family and prevention services CMS actively engages with families and the broader community through our family and community aid and engagement programs, fostering collaboration and creating a sense of belonging. We provide a safe and neutral environment for families to resolve conflicts and find mutually beneficial solutions. Our services include Family Enrichment Program,Brief Strategic Family Therapy, Mentoring and Advocacy Program, Family and Community Engagement, and Foster Care Prevention.
  2. #2 $1.35M
    School based program Through collaborative partnerships and targeted interventions, we support schools in improving teaching practices, curriculum development, and student engagement. By offering these customizable services, CMS aims to create opportunities for personal growth, empower individuals with knowledge and skills, and contribute to the overall development and success of students and schools within the community while changing school culture from the outside.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Engagement
Outreach and prevention initiatives that build strong, resilient communities through partnerships and family-centered programming.
Family Services
Provides crisis intervention, counseling, and intensive in-home support to keep families together and prevent foster care placement.
Justice Programs
Alternative-to-incarceration services for youth and young adults aged 13–24 involved in the justice system, including case management, education, workforce training, and family support.
Mediation Services
Community-based mediation for individuals and groups in conflict, offering a confidential, court-avoidant process facilitated by trained mediators.
Sanctuary Housing Program
Shelter and support services for individuals facing housing insecurity, including migrant populations, funded by DHS.
Student Support Services
School-based programs teaching conflict resolution, leadership, and life skills to prevent youth violence and support academic success.
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Conflict Mediation & Resolution Services 2 activities
    • Mediation and conflict resolution services
      Offers mediation services for family, civil, community, and eldercare disputes using trained facilitators, including the Queensbridge Mediation Hub and the NYC Small Claims Virtual Mediation Program. Conducts approximately 700 family and civil mediations and 200 restorative justice circles annually, contributing to a 30% reduction in 311 calls in Queensbridge.
    • Mediator training and volunteer capacity building
      Provides Part 146-approved mediation training in accordance with New York State judicial rules and maintains a panel of over 60 trained volunteer mediators to support community and court-related dispute resolution efforts.
  • Civil Rights Advocacy & Litigation 1 activity
    • Coalition building and civic engagement initiatives
      Convenes local coalitions such as the Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity in Elmhurst and the NextSTEPS Coalition to promote collaboration, resource-sharing, and participatory budgeting (The People’s Money). Advocates collectively on policy issues affecting youth and communities.
  • Community Resource Navigation and Support Services 1 activity
    • Community hubs and resident resource access
      Operates physical community hubs in East Elmhurst and Queensbridge that provide no-barrier access to programming, resources, and support services. Includes coordination of employment services, college access, mental health support, financial counseling, and tax preparation for public housing residents.
  • Child Welfare and Protection Services 1 activity
    • Family stabilization and foster care prevention services
      Delivers crisis intervention and in-home support to families at risk of child removal through programs like the Family Enrichment Program and Family Stabilization Program, which include counseling, home visits, skill-building, and service planning. Uses Brief Strategic Family Therapy and other evidence-based models, achieving a 98% success rate in helping families avoid foster care placement.
  • Foster Youth Transition Support 1 activity
    • Foster youth mentoring and life skills support
      Provides Fair Futures mentoring for youth in foster care through the Care4 platform, supporting goal achievement in education, employment, and life skills. Achieves an 85% goal completion rate among participants.
  • Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
    • Job readiness and workforce development programs
      Operates job readiness programs featuring over 24 workshops focused on work development, with an 82% completion rate and more than 50% of participants securing employment post-completion. Also connects shelter residents and community members to vocational training and employment opportunities.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • School-based academic and behavioral support programs
      Delivers tutoring, mentoring, academic enrichment, and conflict resolution programming in schools across Brooklyn and Queens, including targeted support for over-aged and under-credited students. Serves approximately 500 students through five youth programs and operates in multiple schools to improve student engagement and educational outcomes.
  • Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 1 activity
    • Support services for migrant and housing-insecure families
      Provides temporary shelter, transitional housing, and immigration education services for migrant families and others facing housing insecurity through the Sanctuary Housing program and direct support at a Queens migrant shelter. Connects residents to healthcare, legal resources, and social services.
  • Gun Violence Prevention & Intervention 1 activity
    • Youth mentoring and alternatives to incarceration programs
      Provides intensive mentoring, counseling, advocacy, and job readiness services for court-involved youth and young adults aged 13–26 through programs such as Next STEPS, AIM, and Alternatives to Incarceration. These programs focus on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventing system involvement, with an 80% program completion rate and 98% of participants remaining arrest-free during participation.
  • Restorative Justice and Peer Mediation Programs 1 activity
    • Youth violence prevention and leadership development
      Runs school- and community-based programs integrating sports and mandatory conflict resolution workshops, such as a 20-week basketball program in Far Rockaway serving over 100 youth annually. Focuses on peer mediation, violence prevention, and leadership skills for middle school students.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$25.11M
Contributions & grants$23.49M94%
Program service revenue$1.54M6%
Investment income$45K0%
Other revenue$32K
expenses
Total expenses$23.86M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$12.62M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$12.32M
Cash$6.53M
Investments$0
Liabilities$5.55M
Net assets$6.78M
Liquid reserves3.3 mo
7 years on record · 2018–2024 · YoY revenue +20.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 4
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
John Harrison CEO 35 $333K
Keisha S Boatswain CPO 35 $175K
Nathalee Campbell VP Family Services 35 $153K
Gloria Chukwuma up to 123124 CFO 35 $124K
board members · 7
  • Amanda Talty to 92024 — Director
  • Brendez wineglass — Chair Person
  • Philippa L Karteron — Director
  • Renee Requena — Director
  • Ricardi calixte — Director
  • Ryan Morgan — Treasurer
  • Therest Billouin-Roberts — Secretary
relationships · 35

Who they work with

  • ACS Government — Referral partner for family services programs
  • ACS Partner — Partner organization in delivering mediation and community services.
  • Academy for Medical Technology Partner — School served by CMS with conflict resolution, violence prevention, and leadership programming.
  • Care4 Partner — Platform used to provide tutoring services in the Fair Futures program
  • Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES) Partner — Former employer and related organization in justice programming
  • Chief Administrative Judge Government — Approved provider of mediation training under Part 146 of the Rules of the Chief Administrative Judge.
  • DYCD Partner — Partner organization in delivering mediation and community services.
  • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Government — Partnership in youth and community programs
  • Department of Probation Partner — Refers youth to the AIM Program following court recommendations.
  • Department of Social Services (DHS) Government — Funds shelter programs overseen by CMS
  • Family Court Government — Referral partner for family services programs in Brooklyn and Queens
  • Family Court Government — Refers participants to the AIM Program and collaborates on Alternatives to Incarceration initiatives.
  • Foster Care Prevention Partner — Collaborates on family-focused interventions to prevent entry into foster care through mentoring, therapy, and family engagement services.
  • John Harrison Partner — CEO of COMMUNITY MEDIATION SERVICES INC who authored a public letter reaffirming the organization's mission and values.
  • MS 53 Partner — School served by CMS with conflict resolution, violence prevention, and leadership programming.
  • NYC Department of Probation Government — Partner agency funding and collaborating on justice programs
  • NYC Department of Youth and Community Development Government — Funding and collaborating on youth development programs
  • NYCHA Partner — Partner organization in delivering mediation and community services.
  • New York Cares Partner — Volunteer engagement partner
  • New York City Government — Provides services across New York City in partnership with city institutions including courts and schools.
  • New York City Administration for Children’s Services Government — Funding and support for the Elmhurst Community Partnership through the Community Partnership Program.
  • New York City courts Partner — Partner in providing alternatives to court for dispute resolution.
  • New York Foundation for Eldercare Partner — Partnership to deliver the ElderCare Mediation Program.
  • New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Government — Funds and partners on justice programs
  • New York State Unified Court System Government — Collaborates on solutions for digital access barriers in virtual mediation, such as court kiosks.
  • NextSTEPS Coalition Partner — Collaborates with Community Mediation Services in advocacy efforts against the suspension of a mentorship program by the NYC Department of Probation.
  • Osborne Association Partner — Former employer and partner in youth services
  • PS 105 Partner — School served by CMS with conflict resolution, violence prevention, and leadership programming.
  • Par Central Motor Inn Partner — Partner location used as a migrant shelter for families with children.
  • Queens District Attorney's Office Government — Collaborates on alternatives-to-incarceration programs
+ 5 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Restorative Practices and Diversion to Advance Racial Equity
    methodology: restorative_practices
    By offering court-partnered, community-based alternatives that use restorative practices, mentoring, and coalition building, we reduce justice system involvement and advance public safety because youth are more likely to develop accountability and resilience in supportive, non-punitive environments that prioritize healing over sanctions.
  • Strengths-Based, Family-Centered Empowerment for Self-Sufficiency
    methodology: strengths_based_family_empowerment
    By combining tailored interventions—such as counseling, home visits, and skill-building—with a strengths-based philosophy, we support families in achieving self-sufficiency because recognizing inherent capabilities fosters agency, motivation, and sustainable change.
  • Transformative Mediation with Community-Embedded Practitioners
    methodology: transformative_mediation
    By using transformative and understanding-based mediation models led by culturally aligned, community-based mediators, we produce more empowering and accessible conflict resolution because shared identity and reflective dialogue increase trust and enable parties to collaboratively reshape their relationships.
  • Value-Driven Conflict Resolution through Reflective Understanding
    methodology: value_driven_conflict_resolution
    By integrating personal values and meaning-making—inspired by Viktor Frankl—into mediation, we help individuals balance self and others’ needs because reflective exploration of life experiences fosters deeper empathy and more durable resolutions.